Poster support



July 19, 1 32. J. T. GREENLEE POSTER SUPPORT Filed June 10, 1951 (hf/26S v7, 698672169.

Patented July 19,1932

UNITED STATES Parser;

PANY, OF CIEIILIKLAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS 1 POSTER SUPPORT Application filed. June 10,

My invention relates to improved supporting means for advertising or display sheets, posters or the like.

The object of the invention is to provide supporting means comprising a minimum number of parts which can be quickly assembled and applied to a sheet or poster for holding it in distended upright position.

A further object is to provide a supporting structure comprising a minimumnumber of parts all made, of wood and which is readily adjustable to take up any slack and to hold the sheet or poster taut at all times.

A still'further object is to provide strut members threading one into the other so that adjustment may be readily made for distending and tensing the supported sheet or poster.

The above enumerated and other features of the invention are incorporated in the structure disclosed on the drawing, in which draw- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a. poster;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation;

Figure 3 is a side elevation; and

Figure A is an enlarged section on plane IVIV of Figure 2.

The supporting structure comprises upper and lower similar bars or strips 10 and 11 which are preferably of rectangular crosssection and of material such as wood. These bars are secured, as by gluing, to the upper and lower edges respectively of a sheet or poster P which is to be supported, as indicated in Figure 2. At its middle point, the upper bar 10 has a hole or socket 13in its underside while the lower bar 11 has a similar slot 1A in its upper side.

A strut structure comprises a coupling block 15, an upper strut member 16, and a lower strut member 17, these members and the block being preferably of material such as wood. The upper strut member 16 is preferably permanently secured to the coupling block 15 and as shown it extends at its lower end in the hole 18 at the upper end of the block where it is held by friction or glue. The upper end 17 of the lower strut member 17 is preferably of increased diameter and is threaded for entering the threaded bore 15 at the lower end of the coupling block 15.

1331. Se1 ia1 no; 543,320,

The outer endof the strutmembers 16 and 17 are adapted for engaging in the holes 13 and 14 of the upper and lower bars 10 and 11. After the bars 10 and llf'ha-ve been secured toawpostcr to be supp0rted, the strut structure is'short'ened by screwing the lowerstrut member 17 into the block 15 so that the strut structure maybe inserted between the bars 10 and ill with the outer ends of the strut members in alignment with the holes 13 and JAMES T. GBEENLEE, or OAK PARK,ILLINOISb-AFSIGNbRJ To CENTURY rnm'rine COM- 14. The upper strut member 16 is then inserted into the hole 13 and the lower strut member 17 is turned until the threaded connection between the strut member and the coupling block will bring the outerend of the strut member into the hole 14 and such turning is continued until by the elongation of the-strut strucure the bars '10 and 11 will be separated to tense'the poster P.

To support the poster in'upright position,

- a prop bar or rod 19 is provided which may alsobe of w'oodand which 'is adapted for detachable engagement at its'upper end in the diagonally extending hole 20 formed in the'coupling block above thethreaded bore thereof.

' At the place of manufacture, the lower strut member 17 is unscrewed from the-cou- 19 is also withdrawn from the block so that thestrut'mem pling block and the prop bers and block may be assembled in a compactpack'age for shipment. l/Vhere the manufacturer also supplies the poster, the bars 10 and 11 may be secured to the poster and the poster is then rolled up after insertion thereinof the assembled strut and prop elements and a very compact cylindrical package results which can be readily shipped.

If the manufacturer does not supply the poster, the bars 10 and 11 are assembled with the strutand prop elements into a compact package for shipment. V I

As the parts of the supporting structure are all of material such as wood they can be economically and ,readily manufactured. The provision of threads on one of the strut members for threaded engagement with the coupling block eliminates the use of metal set screwsor other fastening means. Assembly of the parts into supporting position is ran very easily and readily accomplished as well as dismantling thereof, and when the parts are supporting a poster any sag may readily be taken up by a slight turn of the threaded strut member. 7

I have shown a practical and efficient embodiment of the various features of my invention but I do not desire to be limited to t the exact structure and arrangement shown as changes and modifications may be made without departing from thescope and principles of the invention as defined in the ap pended claims.

I claim as follows: I

1. In supporting structure of the class described, the combination of upper and lower bars for application to the upper and lower ends of va poster to be supported, said bars having holes in their opposed faces, a strut structure comprising a block having. axially aligned openings in its ends, a strut rod engaging at its inner end in one of said openings and adapted for engagement in the hole of one of said bars, the other opening in said block being threaded, a strut rod having an enlarged threaded section at its inner end for engaging in said threaded opening and adapted for engagement at its outer end in the hole of the other bar,said block having a diagonal opening therein, and a prop rod detachably engaged in said opening.

2. In combination with a poster having bars secured to opposite edges thereof, of a supporting structure comprising a block, a strut member extending from said block to one of said bars, another strut member extending from said block to the other bars, and a prop extending from said block, one of said strut members having threaded engagement with said block and being rotatable relative to the corresponding bar whereby said strut may be rotated relative to said block and said strut structure thereby lengthened to stretch the poster without disturbing said prop.

In testimony whereof I have, hereunto subscribed my name atChicago, Cook County,

Illinois.

JAMES T. GREENLEE. 

